PA HB31

Repeals the existing Legislative Reapportionment Commission (currently composed of legislative leaders) and replaces it with an 11-member Independent Redistricting Commission responsible for drawing both legislative and congressional districts after each federal census

Commission membership would include 4 members from the largest political party, 4 from the second-largest party, and 3 unaffiliated or minor party voters, selected through a public application process administered by the Secretary of the Commonwealth with final pools narrowed by the State Ethics Commission

Commissioners are prohibited from being current or recent (within 5 years) candidates, elected officials, party officers, political consultants, or lobbyists, and face post-service restrictions including ineligibility to run for offices whose districts they drew for 6 years

Establishes ranked redistricting criteria including: compliance with federal law and Voting Rights Act, equal opportunity for racial minorities, no partisan advantage, no incumbent favoritism, respect for communities of interest, contiguous districts, minimal county/municipal splits, and compact shapes

Requires extensive public participation including at least 16 public hearings (8 before and 8 after preliminary maps), a publicly accessible online platform for map submissions and comments, and appropriates a minimum of $11,500,000 for commission operations